Heating system



April 6, 1943. F. N. OSTERKORN HEATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1937 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS April 6, 1 F. N. osTERKoRN 2,315,541

7 HEATIYNG SYSTEM Filed Dec. 10, 1937 z 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK/Z USIERKW ATTORNEYS Ap .6, 1943. F. N. OSTERKORN HEATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 10, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FREDERIcK 1V. asrzzzxamv BY ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1943 HEATING SYSTEM Frederick N. Osterkorn, Freehold, N. J., assignor to Economy Valve Company, a copartnership consisting of Herman D. Jafl'e, Nathan Feldstern, and said Frederick N. Osterkorn Application December 10, 1937, Serial No. 179,056 Claims. (01. 237- 68) The present invention concerns itself with heating systems and has particular reference to heating systems of the type wherein the heating medium is steam, as well as to air-venting and air-inlet valves for use in such systems.

The invention is based upon the observation that there exists in steam heating systems an alternating or spasmodic surge or pulsation which can be controlled or regulated in such a way as to create a suction pulling in the direction of the radiators, and that the suction thus produced can be utilized as a motive force for conveying heated vapor or steam from the boiler to the radiators even when the fire is banked.

The surge or pulsation to which I have reference can be observed by carefully watching the water glass or gauge on the boiler of a heating system. It also manifests itself as an alterhating flow or pulsation of air through the air vents of the radiators which can be actually heard as a slightly perceptible sound Just before steam temperature is reached in the boiler. V

In one of its aspects, the invention is directed to a heating system provided with means for controlling or regulating the surge or pulsation in such a way as to create a suction pulling in the direction of the radiators, thereby drawing from the boiler heated vapor or steam to all the radiators. The means for controlling or regulating the surge or impulse is in the form of'an airventing valve adapted to be connected to the radiators of a conventional steam heating system and being of such construction and mode of operation as to permit the escape of air from the radiator corresponding to the outward impulse of the surge or pulsation while preventing the return of air to the radiator corresponding to the inward impulse of said surge or pulsation, thereby suppressing the return impulse and converting the alternating surge to a unidirectional series 0f impulses in the direction of the radiators.

. In a preferred-embodiment of the invention, the heating system is provided with means for automatically controlling or regulating the degree of suction or vacuum produced by the airventing valve. The means for controlling or regulating the degree of suction or vacuum is in the form of an air-inlet valve adapted to be connected to the boiler above the water level.

In another of its aspects, the invention is directed to the construction of the air-venting valve.

In still another of its aspects, the invention is directed to the construction of the air-inlet valve.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention,

both the air-venting and air-inlet valves are provided with means to seal the valves and thus the system against the escape of steam.

The concept and operative principle underlying the invention is capable of being embodied in onepipe heating systems as well as in two-pipe systems and in systems which combine certain of the features of one and two-pipe systems.

Referring briefly to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, more or less diagrammatic or schematic in its representation, of a one-pipe system embodying the inventive concept and operative principle 01' my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through one of the air-venting valves showing its connection to one 01' the'radiators;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken sub- I stantially along line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the details of the air-venting valve shown in Figure 2;.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of .the valve disk of the air-venting valve; 7 I,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another detail of the air-venting valve;

Figure '7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the air-inlet valve and showing its connection to the boiler;

Figure 8 is a perspective fragmentary view of.

' to be heated and connected to a common source of steam such as a boiler 4 by means of a steam main 5 and a number of branch pipes 8, I and 8.

The boiler may be of conventional construction and is shown as being provided with a conventional form of fire box 9, a'water glass or gauge I 0 and a steam gauge II. It is to be noted that the steam gauge is connected to the boiler above wherein is illustrated a preferred formpf airventing valve [3. As shown in Figures 2 and 3,

the valve has an outer shell or casing which may advantageously take the form of a bell jar. The casing is shown as being made in two parts, which for convenience will be referred to as the body reduced substantially cylindrical portion 2|. The inner shell may rest upon the bottom of the outer shell or be somewhat spaced therefrom. The

. base portion i9 is of a somewhat smaller diameter than the outer casing and fits snugly therein by virtue o.f a number of vertical corrugations 22. The vertical wall of the base may also be provided with a number of apertures for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

As shown in Figure 2, the conical portion 213 may be provided with a number of apertures 23 also for a purpose to be pointed out in the following description. Fitted within the reduced upper portion 2!! of the inner shell and extending upwardly through an aperture provided for the purpose in the top of the outer shell is the block 253. This element is substantially cylindrical and is provided below its middle with an enlarged portion 213 which rests on the upper reduced portion iii of the inner casing and fits tightly against the outer casing, thereby sealing the aperture through which the element 24 extends.

As shown in Figure 2, the block it is provided with a vertical aperture 26 and a communicating.

aperture 2i which is slightly inclined to the horiaontal. The aperture 2i is threaded to receive the threaded portion oi the plugid. The plug which is illustrated to a larger scale in Figure is shown as having a cylindrical centrally apertured head 29 and a threaded portion which is received within the inclined aperture 27. At this point it may be stated that the aperture it is inclined at a very small angle (about from the horizontal. Hence, the outer face of the head oi the plug is inclined to the same extent from the vertical.

The numerals M, 32 and designate three pins oi very small diameter which extend at right angles from the outer face oi the plug These pins are spaced about the central aperture at equal distances from the center of the aperture, the two upper pins 36 and 32 being more closely spaced from each other than they are from. pin 33, thus forming the apices of an isoceles triangle.

The numeral M denotes a valve disk which is shown to a larger scale in Figure 5. This disk is made of skeletonizedyery light metal or alloy such as aluminum, Duralumin, Dow metal etc., and is provided with an. extension 35 which terurinates in a knurled finger hold it The disk itseli tapers very markedly from the extension thereby providing a sharp outer edge'ili which is preferably as fine as lrriiie edge so that when placed against the outer face of the plug 2i} Toetween the pins 32 and valve disk will be delicately balanced on the lower pin As has been stated, the two upper pins 33 and iii are more closely spaced to each other than they are to the lower pin 33. This arrangement eliminates any tendency of the pins to bind the valve disk, it being essential that the valve disk be delicately stantially frusto-conical portion 20 and the upper I balanced so that it will be moved away from the face of the plug by the outward impulse of the alternating surge or pulsation previously referred to. To this end the entire valve disk unit including valve disk, extension and finger hold is made as light in weight as possible.

The reference numeral 38 denotes a cylindrical cap which fits over the outer face of the plug 28 to provide a housing or enclosure for the valve disk 36. Its structure is shown in Figure 6. As shown it has a central aperture 39 through which is adapted to extend the extension 35 of the valve disk. Theaperture should be of a size suflicient to receive the extension and to permit the escape of air passing by the valve disk, and may be smaller than the diameter of the finger hold 35, thereby preventing the accidental misplacement of the valve disk when the valve is taken apart. The cap may be connected or attached to the plug 28 in various ways well known to the art. For most purposes, it is sufiicient to make the cap of such dimensions as to fit snugly about the plug 28 when forced thereon and to provide free play for the valve disk.

It will be noted that the vertical aperture 26 in the plug 2 5 has an enlarged frusto-conical lower end it which receives the upper conical end or point it of a vertical rod or stem 62. To the lower end of the rod 52 is secured in a suitable manner a bimetallic concave disk 53, which is shown as being provided with a plurality of apertures. The two metals of which the disk is made are so chosen that the dist: will change from the concave form shown in Figure 2 to a convex form when its temperature reaches 205 F., and will change back again to the concave form when its temperature falls to a predetermined lower limit. A suitable lower limit for the purposes of the present invention is F. has Shown in Fi ure 2. when the disk is of concave form there is a considerable clearance between the upper end of the rod 62 and the walls of the aperture Gil. When the disk changes to its convex form the upper end of the rod will be instantaneously forced against the walls of the aperture so as to seal it against steam, and when the disk changes back to its concave form the upper end of the rod will be instantaneously pulled away from the walls of the aperture to permit the passage of air and vapor.

The bimetallic disk is shown as being supported about its outer periphery on the annular flange of the supporting element i -i, so that it is absolutely free to change its cross-section when the predetermined temperature limits are reached. The supporting element M is shown as having a base portion which is raised in the center as shown at $5 thereby providing an annular runway 36. Suitable apertures til are shown provided in the raised portion and the annular runway is shown as being provided with radially disposed raised ribs or corrugations 48. Connected to the annu- I valves of this invention will pass through the norale it into the valve and will find its way through the various apertures and spaces in the various elements to the lower enlarged end it of the vertical aperture Assuming that the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 2; the air or vapor may be horizontal.

2,315,541 will pass up through the communicating apertures 26 and 21 and through the aperture in the plug 28 to the valve disk 34 which, as has been pointed out, is very delicately balanced on the lower pin 33. Due to the slight inclination of the plug 28 the disk presses against the outer face of the plug thereby sealing the aperture. Since the air or vapor issuing from the radiator comes in short spasmodic impulses, the valve disk will move back and forth between the guide pins 3l,.

32 and 33 in synchronism with the impulses thereby permitting the escape of air on the outward impulses but sealing the plug 28 against the return of air on the inward impulses. This action will continue as long as the bimetallic disk 43 is in its concave form as shown. When steam reaches this disk, the temperature will rise above the upper limit (205 F.) and the disk will thereupon instantaneously snap into its convex shape, forcing the stem or rod 42 upwardly into sealing position with reference to the vertical aperture 26. Thereafter, impulses of air, vapor or steam will be unable to pass up through the block 24 and hence will not actuate the valve disk 34. As soon as the temperature of the bimetallic disk 43 drops to its lower limit (110 F. in the preferred embodiment), it will snap back into its concave shape, thereby positively and forcibly pulling the upper end of the stem 42 away from the aperture 26 and again opening the aperture to the impulses of air or vapor. It is to be noted that water resulting from the condensation of steam will, because of the structure of the various elements,-collect in the runway 48 of the supporting element 44 and will be returned to the radiator through the drain tube 49. It is also to be noted that the valve disk 34 by reason of its finger hold can be readily handled, as when it is desired to grind down its knife edge or to turn the valve disk on its seat for adjustment or other purpose.

Referring now to Figures 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that the air-inlet valve has an outer shell or casing 50 and an inner shell 51, both of which may advantageously be of the same construction as the corresponding elements of the air-venting valve. The numeral 52 denotes a block positioned within the reduced upperend of the inner shell and extending through an aperture in the top of the outer shell in a manner similar to the corresponding blockof the other valve. This block is also of similar construction to the other block, being provided with the two communicating apertures 53 and 54. The aperture 53 is vertically disposed and has a lower enlarged frustoconical portion, but the aperture 54 instead of being inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal The numeral 55 denotes a vertical rod or stem having an upper po nted or conical end to cooperate with the enlar ed lower end of the aperture 53. The vertical rod is con nected at its lower end to the b metallic disk 56 which is supported about its outer periphery by the annular flange of the supporting element 57. Both the bimetallic disk and its support ng e1oment may advantageously be of the same construction as the corresponding elements of the air-venting valve. The bimetallic dirk may have the same temperature limits as the corresponding disk of the other valve. The valve is provided with a nozzle 58 for connection to the p pe l2 which connects the pressure gauge ll to the boiler 4. The valve may also be provided with 'a drain tube 59 which is connected to the supporting element 5'! and extends through the two shells of the valve into the nozzle 58 and down into the connecting pipe 59.

The reference numeral 60 denotes a horizontally disposed tube which is screw-threadely engaged with the block in registration with the horizontal aperture 54. Connected to the outer or free end of the tube is a right-angled elbow 6| which carries a cap 62 at its lower end. The elbow 6| may be formed integrally with the tube 80 or it may be screw-threadedly connected therewith as shown.

The cap 62 is shown in larger scale in Figure 9 and has a bottom 63 and an annular upstanding rim B4. The bottom is provided with a central aperture 65 and the upper surface of the bottom, which mayfor convenience be termed the floor, slopes from the aperture toward the rim, to provide a valve seat for the valve disk 61. The inner surface of the rim is provided with screw threads 66 so that the cap can be detachably connected to the lower end of the elbow Bl.

The numeral 6! denotes the valve disk which is shown to a larger scale in Figure 8. The valve disk is provided with a disk portion 68, an extension 59 and a finger hold 10. The disk portion may have a flat upper surface as shown and its lower surface is preferably sloped from its outer periphery toward the center to conform with the sloping floor of the cap 62. As shown in Figure 7, the disk portion is housed within the space be tween the lower end of the elbow 6i and the cap 82, resting freely upon the slanting floor of the cap 62 with the extension 59 projecting through the aperture 65 and the finger hold 10 accessible below the cap.

It will be understood from the. foregoing description of the air-inlet valve that the valve disk 61 normally closes the aperture in the cap 62 preventing the admission of air and the escape of vapor or steam. When the parts are positioned .as shown in Figure 7, i. 0. when. the bimetallic disk is in its concave form, air and vapor can freely pass through the plug 52 into the space above the valve disk 57. Likewise, any suction or vacuum existing in the system will communicate itself to the upper surface of the disk and will tend to lift the disk from its seat. When the suction or degree of vacuum is sufiiciently great to overcome the weight of the disk, the disk will rise thereby permitting the entrance of atmospheric air. It is thought to be clear therefore that by using a valve d sk of a given weight. it is possible to predetermine the degree of suction necessary to actuate the air-inlet valve. This provides a very convenient way for controlling or regulating the degree of vacuum produced in the system by the air-venting valve.

It will be understood that when steam reaches the bimetallic disk 56, the disk will instantaneously snap into its convex shape thereby pushing the conical end of the stem 55 against its seat in the plug 52 and shutting off the valve disk from the effects of pressure changes in the system.

Also that when the temperature ,of the disk drops to its lower limit the disk will snap back to its concave form and the conical end of the stem will be forcibly and positively pulled away from its seat in the plug, thereby again exposing the valve disk to the effects of pressure changes. It will also be understood that condensed steam will be collected and returned to the radiators from the air-inlet valve. I

It is thought that the operation of the system will be readily understood from the foregoing description, particularly in the light of the followthe boiler.

ing additional explanation. Assuming that in the system illustrated in Figure 1, the fire is banked for the night and the temperature of each of the radiators has dropped below that obtaining in the boiler, each of the air-venting valves will be actuated in the manner previously described to create a suction pulling in the direction of all of the radiators. The amount or degree of the suction will be regulated or controlled Within desired limits by the actuation of the air-inlet valve on The suction within the system will cause the flow of heat to the radiators thereby raising their temperature. In case steam starts flowing in the system and reaches the bimetallic disk of any of the valves, the bimetallic disk will instantaneously snap into its convex shape, thereby sealing the particular valve against the escape of steam. When the temperature or" the bimetal lic disk drops again to its lower limit, the disk will snap back into its concave iorm thereby rendering the valve operative again fo the escape of air corresponding to the outward impulses.

The foregoing system is very flexible in that it will take care of the operating requirements of all the radiators in the system, which depend upon such factors as their distance from the boiler and the particula temperatures in the rooms where the radiators are located. For though each airventing valve is a cooperative part of the entire system, it will be actuated in accordance with the conditions obtaining in the particular radiator to which it may be connected. For instance, at any particular moment, one or more ofthe air-venting valves may be operating to discharge air in synchronism with the surge, while the others may have been rendered inefiective insofar as the dis:- charge of air is concerned by the change in shape of their bimetallic disks and the consequent sealing of the valves against the escape of steam.

It is to be noted that in actual practice the air inlet valve is not indispensable, but I have found it advantageous to provide systems having sev= eral radiators with an air-inlet valve in order to control or regulate the degree of suction created by the air-venting valves.

The foregoing disclosure and description contain the essential and distinctive thought and concept which characterize my invention, but it is to be understood that my inventive thought and concept may be combined with other concepts and that its details may be modified in various ways or replaced by other details without afiect= ing the peculiar results obtained and without departing from the spirit and the scope of the following claims, in which I intend to claim all the patentable novelty inherent in rny-invention.

I claim:

1. In a heating system, in combination with a boiler adapted to contain a body of water, means to heat the water contained in said boiler to cause alternating or spasmodic surges or pulsations in said water, a radiator located at a distance from the boiler, and connections between said boiler and said radiator, an air-venting valve associated with said radiator and actuated by said pulsations to permit the escape of air corresponding to the outward impulses oi the alternating or spasmodic surges or pulsations in said system.

2. In a heating system, in combination with a boiler adapted to contain a body of water,

means to heat the water contained in said boiler to cause alternating or spasmodic surges or pulsations in said water, a radiator located at a distance from the boiler, and connections between associated with said radiator and actuated by said pulsations to permit the escape of air corresponding to the outward impulses of the alternating or spasmodic surges or pulsations in said system, and an air-inlet valve connected to the boiler to control the amount of suction in said system produced by said air-venting valve.

3. In a vapor heating system, in combination with a boiler adapted to contain a body of water to be heated, a radiator located at a distance from said boiler, and connections between said boiler and said radiator to convey vapor from said boiler to said radiator, a light-weight valve member associated with said radiator, said valve member being sensitive to thealternating pulsations that continuously take place in water that is at least moderately heated and being actuated by said pulsations to permit the escape of air tions that continuously take place in water that said boiler and said radiator, an air-venting valve is at least moderately heated and being actuated by said pulsations to permit the entrance of air into the boiler, and a light-weight valve member in communication with said radiator, said valve member being sensitive to said alternating pulsations and being actuated thereby to permit the escape of air corresponding to the outward impulses of said impulses.

5. The heating system defined in claim 3, said valve member being provided with thermostatically controlled means to prevent the escape of steam. if and when it arrives at the valve memher.

6. The heating system defined in claim 4, at least one of said valve members being provided with thermostatically controlled means to prevent the escape of steam, if and when it arrives at the valve member.

7. In a vapor heating system, in combination with a boiler adapted to contain a body of water to be heated, a radiator located at a distance from said boiler and connection between said boiler and said radiator to convey vapor from said boiler to said radiator, a light-weight valve member associated with said radiator for passing air only in one direction, said valve member comprising a disk mounted for free movement and suiilciently light to be sensitive to the alternating pulsations that continuously take place in Water that is at least moderately heated, and being actuated by said pulsations to permit the escape of air corresponding to the outward impulses of said pulsations.

8. In a vapor heating system, in combination with a boiler adapted to contain a body of water to be heated, a radiator located at a distance from. said boiler and connections between said boiler and said radiator to convey vapor from said boiler to said radiator, a light-weight valve member associated with said boiler [or passing air only in one direction, said valve member comprising a disk mounted for free movement and sufficiently light to be sensitive to the alternating pulsations that continuously take place in water that is at least moderately heated, and being actuated by said pulsations to permit the entrance of air into' said boiler, and a light-weight valve member associated with said radiator for passing air only in one direction, said valve member comprising a disk mounted for free movement and sufllciently light to be sensitive to the alternating pulsations that continuously take place in water that is at least moderately heated, and being actuated by said pulsations to permit the escape or air corresponding to the outward impulses of said pulsations, 1 V

9. The heating system defined in claim 7, said valve member being provided with thermostatically controlled means to prevent the escape of steam, if and when it arrives at the valve member.

10. The heating system defined in claim 8, at least one of said valve members being provided with thermostatically controlled means to prevent the escape of steam, if and when it arrives at the valve member.

FREDERICK N. OS'IERKORN. 

